Fencepost



Patented May 2.0, 1924.

UNITED STATES THOMAS R. KINNUCAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

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Application led January 22, 1923.r Serial No. 614,277.

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Be it known that I, THOMAS R. KIN- NUCAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fenceposts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fence posts and more particularly to a fence post which is especially adapted for use in connection with wire fences, the invention having for its primary object the provision of a fence post which when used in conjunction with a wire fence may be so positioned that it will maintain the wire strands in alinement and at the same time resist disengagement of the strands therefrom by reason of lateral pressure thereagainst, thus making the fence very stable and overcoming the difficulty with most wire fences, viz., disengagement of the wires from the posts and the resultant sagging thereof.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a post of this kind which is very strong and durable, inexpensive of manufacture, and which may be easily driven into the ground and effectually main` tained therein.

Vith the above and other objects in view, as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention comprises certain novel features of construction which will be hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that the same may be better understood reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings,

Figure l is an elevation of my post; Fig. 2 a top plan view thereof showing wires attached, and Fig. 3 a top plan view of a portion of a fence showing the application of the invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, numeral 5 denotes a fence post constructed in accordance with my invention having a base or earth engaging portion 6, the lower extremity of which is preferably pointed as shown at 7, and the longitudinal sides of the earth engaging portion are provided with surface ribs 8 to resist withdrawal of the earth engaging portion when it has been driven into the ground.

It will be noted that the wire carrying portion of the post above the ground, de'- noted at 9, is laterally offset from the earth engaging portion 6 as shown at 10, the purpose of which will be presently described.

The upright wire carrying portion 9 and also the offset portion are both provided with annular enlargements l1 for engagement with the loop l2 of the wire strand 13 thus maintaining the wire strand in spaced relation and preventing spreading thereof. By -providing the laterally offset portion 10 with annular enlargements 1l, it

will be evident that the 4post will be espe-` cially fitted for use in connection with fencing for enclosing animals of the burrowing or digging variety and will render their escape by digging under the bottommost wire very difficult.

The post is preferably constructed of metal, but may be formed with almost equal facility of wood. In driving the post into the ground it will be seen that the lateral offset portion 10 forms a striking surface for the mallet or other instrument used in positioning the post in the ground, and thus it is unnecessary to dig a hole first as is the usual custom when posts of considerable height are used. l

A further object of the formation of the post with its upright portion offset from the ground engaging portion, is to permit the construction of a fence whereby the posts may be positioned alternately along the line of the fence so that they may face the wire from opposite sides. It will be evident that this lends stability to the fence, as strains suffered by the wires are resisted from either side, hel ing to keep the wire well in alinement, an at the same time preventing disengagement of the wire therefrom.

In accordance with the patent statutes,

I have described and illustrated the pre-y ferred embodiment of this invention, but it will be understood y that various slight changes and modifications may be made therein within the spirit and scope of the following claims. Y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fence post comprisinga ground er1- gaging portion, a lateral offset at the top of said ground engaging portion, an upright wire carrying portion carried by said lateral offset, and annular enlargements carabutting and retaining the Wire strands of the fence in spaced relation to eaeli other, and surface ribs carried by said ground engaging portion for preventing Withdrawal of the same from the ground.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

THOMAS R. KINNUCAN. 

